ARLINGTON, TEXAS – A day after Shohei Ohtani had to leave his return to the mound early, Los Angeles Angels manager Mike Scioscia said the two-way rookie sensation was evaluated and is hopeful the righthander will be good to make his next scheduled start Sunday.
Scioscia said Monday that Ohtani had no apprehension about his elbow when his velocity dropped drastically the previous night. Ohtani lasted only 2⅓ innings at Houston on Sunday night in his first game on the mound since June 6 because of an elbow strain. He was dealing with tightness in his back and a sore right ring finger after a ball deflected off it in the second inning, but neither issue should cause him to miss more time.
"The most important thing is his elbow feels great," Scioscia said.
Ohtani gave up two hits Sunday, both to George Springer — a leadoff single and his two-run homer in the third.
"He was throwing 98-99 and then came out throwing 88-92," Springer said afterward. "When it's that obvious I hope he's OK."
Ohtani wasn't in the lineup as a hitter for the Angels in Monday's series opener at Texas, which is normal the game after he pitches. As a hitter, Scioscia said Ohtani was day to day.
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